meghalaya-govt-drops-lumpongdeng-island-from-taj-umiam-project

The Meghalaya government has dropped Lumpongdeng Island from the proposed Taj Umiam resort project following sustained protests by local groups in Ri Bhoi district, opting to scale back the plan to address environmental and community concerns.

 

Officials said the agreement with Umiam Hotel Pvt Ltd, associated with the Taj Hotels, will be revised to reflect the exclusion of the island.

 

The move follows a meeting between government representatives and the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, a collective of traditional village heads. Authorities acknowledged the objections raised by residents over including Lumpongdeng Island in the project and decided to withdraw it to prevent further unrest.

 

Protests had intensified in recent weeks, with civil society groups opposing the plan and at least one organisation staging a hunger strike for nearly two weeks demanding the island’s exclusion.

 

Officials clarified that the broader tourism project will continue at the existing Umiam Orchid Lake Resort site near Umiam Lake. The development will now be confined to around 30 acres where infrastructure already exists, without extending into ecologically or culturally sensitive areas.

Also read: Meghalaya activists oppose Taj resort plan on Lumpongdeng Island

The government said the original proposal did not envisage permanent construction on Lumpongdeng Island and was intended to focus on low-impact tourism. However, it decided to fully drop the island component in view of sustained public concern.

 

Authorities maintained that the project aims to attract reputed hospitality investment, generate employment and boost the local economy in a state with limited government job opportunities.

 

Responding to criticism, the government said the decision was taken in deference to public sentiment rather than under pressure, even as it acknowledged that political reactions were expected ahead of the Shillong parliamentary by-election.

 

With the revision, Lumpongdeng Island will remain outside the scope of commercial tourism development, while the scaled-down resort project proceeds at the existing site.